Bishara continues Verry good year

Ardmore trainer Nick Bishara’s year just keeps on getting better after promising stayer Verry Flash returned to winning form with a victory at Rotorua on the weekend.

Four-year-old Zed gelding Verry Flash started the golden run for Bishara and his co-owner and breeder Don Goodwin, when he broke his maiden status at Avondale just over 12 months ago. He went on to win three of his next four starts during the winter to stamp himself as a horse with real potential.

Shortly after Verry Flash won his fourth race, his younger sister Verry Elleegant notched her maiden win at Ruakaka under the ownership of Bishara, Goodwin and some of Bishara’s friends.

The three-year-old filly was subsequently sold to a syndicate of Australian and New Zealand interests, with her original owners retaining a shareholding, before commencing a campaign that saw her complete a Group One double in the Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) and ATC Oaks (2400m) in Sydney last month.

Bishara was sporting a wide grin when describing his feelings after the win by Verry Flash

“It’s been a good year, I don’t think I will ever repeat it,” Bishara said.

“It just keeps happening.

“He (Verry Flash) is a really good horse, he’s no Verry Elleegant, but he’s a really good horse.

“He is a big striding horse who wobbled around the bend but when he flattened out, he let down good.”

It was just the second run in a new campaign for Verry Flash after finishing off his summer with a meritorious effort for eighth in the Gr.1 Auckland Cup (3200m) back in March. Although a proficient winter galloper Bishara is keen to see him take an easy path over the next few months before ramping up his workload in the spring.

“It will probably be a very light winter and try for a busy spring,” he said.

“He had a big prep going into the Auckland Cup so I’m mindful of not serving it up all winter to him.

“I think he will get two miles although it may have been a year too soon for the Auckland Cup.

“We’ll just tinker around and wait for the spring and work our way through the grades.”